Bird flu warning: Thuringia under pressure – stable requirement tightened!

Bird flu warning: Thuringia under pressure – stable requirement tightened!

The issue of bird flu is keeping the Thuringia region and beyond in suspense. Health Minister Katharina Schenk has warned urgently about the dangers posed by the spread of this animal disease. In particular, contact with wild birds should be avoided to avoid possible infections. She repeatedly emphasizes: “People should not touch wild birds and should inform the veterinary offices.” the time reported.

Last year, around 400,000 animals nationwide had to be killed because of bird flu, and unfortunately the trend is upwards. Schenk expects the situation to remain tense for a while and is calling for a nationwide obligation to keep stables in order to better protect domestic poultry populations. Only through strict hygiene regulations and reporting of animals can further outbreaks be prevented.

First positive cases in Thuringia

The situation has worsened further in Thuringia. Current reports show new confirmed cases of H5N1 in the Unstrut-Hainich district. Ten dead cranes were found there, five of which had the infection. This led to the immediate imposition of a general order, which includes a stable requirement and a reporting requirement for poultry farmers in the entire Unstrut-Hainich district. Stable requirements are already in force in the Kyffhäuser district and in the Sömmerda and Nordhausen districts in order to contain the spread of the disease n-tv describes.

The numbers are particularly worrying in the Greiz district, where 1,358 animals were killed after an outbreak in a poultry farm. Citizens should also be aware that a large protection zone has been established that extends three kilometers around the affected establishments, while a ten-kilometer monitoring zone has been activated.

Increased risk beyond autumn

Bird flu is spreading not only in Thuringia, but also in other federal states. According to the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI), the risk of further outbreaks has been classified as “high”. In Baden-Württemberg, for example, 15,000 animals had to be killed in a poultry farm, and in northern Brandenburg over 1,000 dead cranes were recovered. The death rates among these wild birds also attract attention: it is estimated that around 2,000 cranes died on the migration south in Germany ZDF reported.

There is currently no significant risk to the population from infections with H5N1. No case has been recorded in humans yet, but it is advised to avoid contact with dead birds. In some regions, such as the Sömmerda district, there is even a ban on entering and driving on certain bank areas in order to minimize possible risks of infection.

A nationwide general decree requires all poultry farmers to comply with strict hygiene regulations. The current threat of bird flu poses a problem not only for agriculture, but also for conservation and wildlife populations. The situation remains tense and continued vigilant action is required from the authorities and the population.